Fireless brooder



Jul 5, 1932.

A. M. PRITCHETT FIRELESS BROODER Filed-April 1951 2 Sheets-Shet 1 Invenior July 5, 1932. A. M. PRITCHETT FIRELESS BROODER Filed April 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor 7: M-Ehafie I? Patented July 5, 1932 PATENT QFFFICE ALLEN M. PRIT'GHETT, 0F PACIFIC, MISSOURI V FIRELESS Application filed April 30,

This invention relates to 'brooders, and the primary object of this invention is to provide a brooder, the interior of which may be heated by means other than fire thus insuring a safe brooder comparatively free from the dangers of fire.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a brooder which will comfortably house a plurality of chicks, and which will provide a safe, warm and well ventilated brooder for the chicks. A still further object of the invention is to provide a brooder capable of housing the chicks against any possible attacks by rodents such as rats, mice and the like.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the brooder, certain parts being broken away.

" Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the brooder.

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view therethrough.

Figure 4 is a horizontal transverse sectional view taken substantially on theline 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail sectional view showing the manner of supporting the roof on the posts rising from the wall of the brooder.

With reference more in detail to the drawin s, it will be seen that my improved brooder comprises a bottom or floor 5 formed of metal, preferably galvanized iron and from which rises a peripheral wall. The peripheral wall includes a lower section 6 preferably formed integral with and of the same material as the floor 5, and an upper wall section 7 formed of reticulated material preferably wire mesh of a suitable gauge. The wall section 7 is supported through the medium of vertical posts 8 suitably secured at their lower ends to the wall section 6 and at their upper ends extending beyond the upper edge of the wall section 6. VThe'wall section 7 is secured to the posts 8 as at 9 and the lower port-ion of the wall section imoonnn 1931. Serial N0. 534,110.

7 overlaps theupper portion of the wall section 6 so as to insure against mice or other rodents attaining access to the brooder between the sections of the wall.

The posts 8 at their upper ends are provided with inwardly and upwardly directed apertured lugs 10.

Supported on the upper ends of the posts 8 is a substantially dome shaped roof or canopy 11 provided with pins 12 adapted to be passed through the apertures in the lugs 10 for detachably supporting the roof 11 on the upper ends of the posts 8.

Stretched within the confines of the marginal edge of the roof or canopy 11 is a sheet of fabric preferably canvas 13 which provides with the canopy 11 a suitable chamber within which is confined a filling of hay, straw or other suitable material 14.

Suspended fromfthe roof or canopy 11 is a substantially annular bag or sack'15 that is tubular in cross section and in which is a filling 16 of fine straw or like material. The bag 15 extends concentrically of the upper wall section 8 and is suspended from 76 the roofing or hood 11 through the medium of a series of relatively spaced tabs 17 connected to. the hood or roofing 11 by buttons or other suitable fastening elements.

The lower portion of the brooder is adaptso ed to. contain to a suitable depth, suitable granular'material 18 such as sand, gravel or like material of heat retaining properties and within which is embedded a tank 19. Tank l9vis adapted to contain hot water and at one end thereof is provided with filling spout 20 projecting through the lower wall section 6, and at the opposite end there-r of with an inclined drain pipe 21 provided with a suitable valve 22. Y

The top ofthetank 19 and the upper sur- I face of the granular material 18is-covered by a layer of fine straw or peat moss to the depth of about two inches, this layer of material being designated "by the refer- 95 ence character 23. Thus it will be seen, that the layer 23 provides as it were a floor and within the layer 23 forming such a floor the chicks may nestle. The -layerr23 is heated by the heat conducted from the tank 19.

The canvas; sheet 13 also provides as it were a ceiling for the brooder and by reason of the filling material 14 supported on the ceiling and the filling material 16 in the bag 15, the interior of the brooder will be maintained at the necessary temperature whereby the brooder will provide a comfortable housing for the chicks. The reticulated wall 8 willinsure sufiicient ventilation for. the chicks, and at the same time afford efficient protection for the chicks against possible attack by rodents.

Even though I have herein shown and de-' scribed the preferred embodiment of themvention, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of changes, modifications and improvements coming within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. A brooder comprising a bottom, a wall rising from said bottom, said wall including a lower section of imperforate material and an upper section of reticulated material, a hood, supporting means for the hood, a tank arranged in the bottom of the brooder and adapted to contain a heating medium, a layer of heat retaining material supported on the top of said tank, and an annular member supported in the brooder above said tank, said annular member being formed of heat retaining material.

2. A brooder comprising a bottom, awall rising from said bottom, said wall including a lower section of imperforate material and an upper section of reticulated material, a hood, supporting means for the hood, a tank arranged in the bottom of the brooder and adapted to contain a heating medium, a layer of heat retaining material supported on the top of said tank, and an annular. member supported in the brooder above said tank, said annular member being formed of heat retaining material, a sheet of fabric supported within the confines of said wall against the upper edge of the wall, and in spaced relation to an intermediate portion of'said.

hood, and a filling material supported on said sheet between it and said hood.

3. A brooder comprising a bottom, a peripheral wall section rising from said bot tom, posts extending above the upper edge of said wall section, a hood supported on said posts, and an annular member supported in the brooder between said hood and the upper portion of said wall section, said annular member being formed of flexible material and being substantially tubular in cross section, and a filling material arranged in said annular member.

4. A brooder comprising a bottom, a peripheral wall section rising from said bottom,

posts extending above the upper edge of said wall section, a hood supported on said posts, an annular member'supported in the brooder between said hood and the upper portion of said wall section, said annular member being formed of flexible material and being substantially tubular in cross section, a filling material arranged in said annular member and a sheet of flexible material supported adjacent the upper ends of said posts above said annular member.

5. A brooder comprising a bottom, a peripheral wall section rising from said bottom, posts extending above the upper edge of said wall section, a hood supported on said posts, and an annular member supported in the brooder between said hood and the upper portion of said wall section, said annular member being formed of flexible material and being substantially tubular in cross section, a filling material arranged in said annular member, a sheet of flexible material supported adjacent the upper ends of said posts above said annular member, a layer of granular material to a suitable depth covering the bottom of said brooder, a tank embedded in said layer and having a filling spout extending through said wall, and a valve controlled drain pipe extending therefrom through said wall, and a layer of soft material covering the top of said tank;

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ALLEN M. PRITCHETT. 

